Barcelona are set to propose a stunning swap deal to Real Madrid in order to secure the services of Isco in the summer, as per reports.
Spanish publication Don Balon have reported that Barcelona are willing to do everything they can to land Isco from Real Madrid in the summer, and are now set to propose a staggering swap deal involving Ivan Rakitic.
Isco has been considering his future with Real Madrid for some time now, having fallen down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu. 2016/17 has been a big struggle for the Spain international, as he has managed to start just 11 of the 23 games that Los Blancos have played in La Liga this season.
While he hasn’t been below par by any means, with five goals and as many assists being proof of that, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has chosen the likes of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric ahead of him in midfield, with the star trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema being too good to be displaced in attack.
With opportunities being limited, Isco has admitted his desire to depart from the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer having already rejected a contract extension offer from Real Madrid. Zidane has also stated that he will not stand in Isco’s way as he understands the Spain international’s predicament.
With Isco looking set to leave Real Madrid in the summer, several clubs have registered an interest in him, with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur being two of the most prominent names. Barcelona have also been heavily linked with the midfielder and they see him as the true successor to Andres Iniesta.
The Don Balon report states that the Blaugrana believe that Isco wants the move to Nou Camp as well. They are, thus, willing to do everything they can in order to bring the Spaniard to Catalonia and are set to propose a stunning swap deal in order to test the resolve of Real Madrid.
Ivan Rakitic would be the player headed the opposite way, despite recent reports that he is all set to put pen to paper on a new five-year deal with Barcelona. The Croat has himself struggled for game time this season, having started just 14 times in the league, and has been linked with several clubs in recent months.
However, he has made no bones about his desire to remain at Nou Camp for as long as he can. But Barcelona are keen to land Isco and with Real Madrid’s interest in Rakitic being well known, a swap deal could yet be on the cards despite the two clubs usually being unwilling to do business with each other.
